Pipe testing apparatus



Feb. 15, 1955 H. E. GRAU PIPE TESTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 22 1950 INVENTOR. A/AWMI/VE 4240 BY 41M Feb. 15, 1955 GRAU 2,702,130

PIPE TESTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 22, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. #52444 5. 24a

ywf/ Feb. 15, 1955 Filed Nov. 22 1950 H. E. GRAU PIPE TESTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. X/EA/l/V E. 6940 BY -MM/ 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 22, 1950 wm m IN VENTOR. A/A-PMM/ 5 240 Feb. 15, 1955 R U 2,702,130

PIPE TESTING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 22. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mmvron #52414 5 340 BY r 422 United States Patent 2,702,130 PIPE TESTING APPARATUS Herman E. Grau, Mount Lebanon, Pa., assignor to United Engineering and Foundry Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 22, 1950, Serial No. 197,038

4 Claims. (Cl. 2141) This invention relates to testing apparatus and, in pan ticular, to apparatus for testing pipes and the like wherein is provided handling and clamping means for rapidly and efliciently receiving, positioning and clamping within the apparatus the articles to be tested and for quickly releasing and removing them therefrom on the completion of the. test.

Through the use of the handling means provided for herein, it is possible to accommodate pipes of varying sizes, its use'being particularly desirable where relatively large diameter, heavy pipes are being tested. The pipes are received from a run-in table and instead of being permitted to drop abruptly into the cradle, which, by reason of the weight of the articles, would subject the cradle and the apparatus to damage and vibration, are gently lowered and secured in position, the testing thereof accomplished and then rapidly released, raised upward and deposited upon the run-out table.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide article handling means for use in pipe testing apparatus and the like for receiving and securing the articles in position for testing and for releasing and expelling them from the apparatus on completion of the test.

Another object of this invention is to provide article handling means which is simple of construction and operation and economical to maintain.

Still another object of this invention is to provide article handling means'in combination with testing apparatus adapted to accommodate pipes and the like without regard to the size and weight thereof.

These objects, as well as the various other features and advantages of this invention, will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings of which: t

Figure l is a side elevation view of a portion of a testing apparatus embodying the features of the article handling and clamping device herein disclosed,

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view of the apparatus taken at II--II of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an end elevation view taken "at IIIIII of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken at lVIV of Figure 2 showing the pipe receiving, lowering and kick-out mechanism,

Figure 5 is a sectionalview taken at VV of Figure 2 showing the pipe clamping elements, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken at VI-VI of Figure 2 showing the removable pipe cradle.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a pipe testing apparatus comprising a pair of parallel tension bars 11, supported at their ends by posts 12, a rail 13 secured to the top of each bar 11, a stationary head stock 14 secured to the bars at one end therefor and a tail stock 15 mounted upon and adjustable along the rails 13. The tail stock is provided with two oppositely located pins 16 which can be inserted into one of the openings 17 of each of the tension bars 11 for locking the tail stock in the required testing position. Suitable connections areprovided for admitting fluid under pressure to the apparatus for carrying out the required pipe tests. Between, beneath and spaced along the tension bars 11 are a plurality of pipe receiving and clamping units 18 which are adapted to receive the pipes from the run-in table, lower and clamp them in the testing position and release, raise and expel them from the apparatus on completion of the test.

E ch of the units 18, as shown specifically in Figures 2 2,702,130 Patented Feb. 15, 1955 openings in the cross braces 23. For each of the stands there is provided mechanism for operating both the receiving, lowering and pipe kick-out elements as well as the pipe locking elements of the apparatus.

To one side of and supportedat itszends in suitable bearings within the stand and for operating the receiving, lowering and pipe kick-out elements, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, there is a bell crank 25 having a clevised arm 26 within which is received a nut 27 pivoted between two bolts 28 secured to the arm 26. A second arm 29 extends from the top and opposite side of thebell crank post and has secured thereto, 'by a pin 31, a pair of pivotal links 32. To the outer ends of the links 32 a carriage 33 is also pivotally secured by means of a pin 34. The carriage 33 consists of two side members 35 secured together by a plurality of spacers 37, 38 and 39. For supporting and guiding the carriage 33 a plurality of rollers 41 are rotatably secured within the stand, engaging the carriage at both the top and bottom thereof. Passing through andthreadably engaging the nuts 27 there is a push rod 42 which is actuated by two fluid motors 43 and 44 which are connected together in tandem relationship as shown in Figure 2.

To the rear of and on the same side of the stand as shown more specifically in Figure 5, there'is also provided the mechanism for operating the clamping elements of the units. A bell crank 45 is rotatably secured within the stand and is provided with a clevised arm 46 within which two bolts 47 pivotally secure a nut 48. Two links 49 are pivotally attached to the upper arm 51 of the bell crank by means of a pin 52. To the opposite ends of the links 49 a carriage 53 is pivotally secured by means of a pin 54. The carriage 53 comprises two side members 55 which are secured together by means of spacers 56, 57 and 58. An adjustable stud 59, threaded through the spacer 57, rotatably engages a spring plate 61 having a boss extending therefrom which is encircled by the end of a compression spring 62. The opposite end of the spring is also engaged by a plate 63. Both of the spring plates 61 and 63 are so formed at their edges that they overhang the carriage side members 55 and are free to slide therealong when the spring 62 is compressed and expanded. To retain the spring assembly within the carriage 53 two stops are welded to the inside of the carriage side members 55 and engage and prevent the plate 63 from moving to the left. The carriage 53 is supported and guided by means of a plurality of rollers 64 which are rotatably secured within the stand and engage the members 55 at both the top and bottom edges thereof. Passing through and threadably engaging the nut 48 is a push rod 65 which is actuated by means of a double-acting fluid motor 66 secured to the end of the rod at the head stock end of the testing apparatus.

Above the stand 19 and positioned between and detachably secured to tension bars 11 there-is a frame 67 provided with two overhanging tapered top portions 68 and 69 by which the frame is suspended between and supported by the rails 13. For delivering pipe to and for carrying pipe away from the pipe handling apparatus there are shown on opposite sides of the apparatus a delivery table 71 and a run-out table 72 respectively. To the frame 67 and near the top thereof is pivotally secured a lifting arm 73 which is curved at its bottom end in order to engage pipes of various diameters. An adjusting stud 74 is passed through a portion of the frame and can be moved toward or away from the lifting arm 73 for limiting the lowermost position thereof. A lever 75 pivotally secured to the frame 67 by a pin 76 is provided with two arms 77 and 78 having rotatably secured to the ends thereof rollers 79 and 81 respectively. When the lifting arm 73 is in its lowermost position, as shown in Figure 5, the roller 81, which is always suspended between the two carriage side members 35, is adjacent to the spacer 38. When the push rod 42 is moved so as to cause the carriage 33 to move to the right the spacer 37 engages with the roller 81 and will thereby'cause the lever 75 to turn counter-clockwise and bring the roller of operation of the two motors 43 and 44. The piston rod of motor 43 is directly connected to the push rod 42 and the piston rod of the motor 44 connected to the back of the motor 43 which is slidably mounted in suitable guides. On extending the piston rods of both motors the arm 73, through movement of t he carriage 33, is raised to its topmost or kick out position. When the piston rod of the motor 43 is withdrawn, the arm 73 is permitted todrop to its pipereceiving position. By withdrawing the piston rod of the motor 4'4, the motor 43 is displaced in its guides so as to impose further movement upon the push rod 42 and the carriage 33 whereby the arm 73 is lowered to its bottom position and the pipe carried thereby deposited upon the cradle.

Although not specifically shown, the double-acting motors 43 and 44 are connected to a suitable fluid pressure source and there are provided individual manually operated valves for admitting fluid to each of the motors.

As shown in Figure 6, removable plpe-supporting cradles 82 are inserted in the center of the stand and, since they are of various sizes, can be exchanged readily to accommodate pipes of different diameters tonnsure that the axes of the pipes will be coincident with the axis of the testing apparatus. Two bolts 83 extend o utward from the cradle and serve as lifting lugs for aldmg in the removal and the positioning of the cradles 82 within the frame. The pipe clamping device, which is actuated by movement of the carriage 53 as specifically shown in Figure 5, includes a curved arm 84 pivotally secured by a pin 85 within the frame 67. The arm is provided at its pivotal point with a counterwe1ght 86 and at its lower end with a roller 87. The counterweight 86 insures that the arm will be in its non-clamping POSI- tion, as shown in Figure 5, when the carriage 53 has been moved to the right. After a pipe has been lowered into and inserted in the pipe testing position within the cradle, the push rod 65 is actuated to move the carriage 53 to the left thereby causing the spring plate 63 to urge the roller 87 to the left, thus to rotate the clamping arm 84 clockwise and into its clamping position. When the clamping arm makes contact with the p1pe to be clamped, the spring 62 is compressed by continued movement of the carriage thereby providing a cushioned clamping force against the pipe. To release the clamping arm 84 from its pipe engaging position the carriage 53 is moved to the right thereby permitting the arm 84 to rotate counter-clockwise into its non-clamping position.

For detachably securingthe frame 67 between the two tension bars 11, there is shown in Figure 6 a quickly releasable curved locking arm 88, threaded at its outer end, which is pivotally secured to the frame 67 by means of a pin 89. A slidable notched sleeve 91 is retained on the arm 88 by a nut 92 and when the outer end of the arm is passed through one of the openings in the tension bars, the nut 92 is drawn up so that the sleeve 91 is firmly pressed into locking engagement with the tension bar 11, thereby preventing the frame 67 from moving out of position with respect to the stand 19.

Depending upon the length of the pipes to be tested, as many of the units as will be necessary to provide an adequate support for the pipes may be spaced along and quickly secured to the tension bars of the apparatus. Inasmuch as the cradle inserts may be removed from their frames, replacement by those which will accommodate pipes of a different diameter can readily be accomplished without undue delay or interference with the testing procedure. Then, too, though the cradles and clamping units have been shown as applied to a unit for testing pipes individually, they are adapted to be applied to a unit in which two or more pipes may be tested simultaneously.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. For use in combination with pipe testing apparatus and the like, a cradle, a pipe receiving, lowering and 4' ejecting member pivotally supported at one end above said cradle and having an element projecting outward from the front side and at substantially right angles therefrom to form a support for a pipe engaged thereby, a lever pivotally supported between its ends below said cradle, one end of said lever,s lidably engaged with the rear side of said member, an element movable transversely of said cradle and in engagement with the opposite end of said lever adapted to turn said lever about its pivot thereby to raise and lower said member from the pipe ejecting to the pipe testing position, means in engagement with and to shift said element thereby to lower said member from its pipe ejecting to its pipe receiving position, and separate means'in engagement with said last-mentioned means for shifting said element an additional amount thereby to lower said member and the pipe carried thereby to deposit the pipe in its testing position on said cradle.

2. For use in combination with pipe testing apparatus and the like, a cradle, a pipe receiving, loweringand ejecting member pivotally supported at one end above said cradle and having an element projecting outward from the front side and at substantially right angles therefrom to form a support for a pipe engaged thereby, a lever pivotally supported between its ends below said cradle, one end of said lever slidably engaged with the rear side of said member, an element movable transversely of said cradle and in engagement with the opposite end of said lever adapted to turn said lever about its pivot thereby to raise and lower said member from the pipe ejecting to the pipe testing position, means in engagement with and to shift said element thereby to lower said member from its pipe ejecting to its pipe receiving position, separate means in engagement with said last-mentioned means for shifting said element an additional amount thereby to lower said member and the pipe carried thereby to deposit the pipe in its testing position on said cradle, and clamping means for securing a pipe upon said cradle and means for actuating said clamping means.

3. For use in combination with pipe testing apparatus and the like, a removable cradle, a pipe receiving, lowering and ejecting member pivotally supported at one end above said cradle and having an element projecting outward from the front side and at substantially right angles therefrom to form a support for a pipe engaged thereby, a lever pivotally supported between its ends below said cradle, one end of said lever slidably engaged with the rear side of said member, an element movable transversely of said cradle and in engagement with the opposite end of said lever adapted to turn said lever about its pivot thereby to raise and lower said member from the pipe ejecting to the pipe testing position, means in en-. gagement with and to shift said element thereby to lower said member from its pipe ejecting to its pipe receiving position, separate means in engagement with said lastmentioned means for shifting said element an additional amount thereby to lower said member and the pipe carried thereby to deposit the pipe in its testing position on said cradle, and clamping means for securing a pipe in the testing position upon said cradle comprising a lever pivotal between its ends, one end of said lever so formed as to engage an arcuate portion of a pipe to be clamped, an element movable transversely of said cradle and in engagement with the opposite end of said lever, and means in engagement with and adapted to shift said element thereby to pivot said lever into its pipe clamping position.

4. For use in combination with pipe testing apparatus and the like, a plurality of removable cradles, a pipe receiving, lowering and ejecting member pivotally supported at one end above and adjacent each one of said cradles and having an element projecting outward from the front side and at substantially right angles therefrom to form a support for a pipe engaged thereby, a lever pivotally supported between its ends below each of said cradles, one end of said lever slidably engaged with the rear side of said member, an element adjacent to and movable transversely of each of said cradles and in engagement with the opposite end of said adjacent lever adapted to turn said lever about its pivot thereby to raise and lower said adjacent member from thelpipe ejecting to the pipe testing position, means in engagement with and adapted to shift all of said elements simultaneously thereby to lower sald members from their pipe ejecting to their pipe receiving positions, separate means in engagement with said last-mentioned means for shifting simultaneously all of said elements an additional amount thereby to lower all of said members and the pipe carried thereby to deposit the pipe in its testing position on said cradles and clamping means adjacent each cradle for securing a pipe. in the testing position comprising a lever pivotal between its ends, one end of each of said levers so formed as to engage an arcuate portion of a pipe to be clamped, an element movable transversely of said cradle in engagement with the opposite end of said lever, and means 2,405,141 Hibbard Aug. 6, 1946 2,497,193 Webb Feb. 14, 1950 10 2,519,837 Lampard Aug. 22, 1950 

